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Effective January 2013, starting in Battery Park, begin to replace necessary subway grates with elevated grates. Seal up grates that prove to be unnecessary. Repeat this process moving uptown until we reach Canal Street.

Completely protect the 4 and 5 train subway tunnels from flooding by 2028

Aim to have research pertaining to the plugs completed by June 2015, then start to equip subway tunnels with the plugs by 2016, placing subway stations located closest to the water at a higher priority.

Completely protect the 2 and 3 train subway tunnels from flooding by 2062

Have researchers evaluate lower Manhattan from 2014-2017 and the changes that must be made to accommodate elevated subway entrances.

Completely protect the R train subway tunnel from flooding by 2045

By January 2016, establish a training program to teach MTA employees to effectively use the inflatable plugs.

Completely protect the A and C train subway tunnels from flooding by 2080

Conduct a survey in June 2014 of every lower Manhattan train station’s proximity to the shore to determine order of implementation. Stations that are most susceptible to flooding will be the first stations to be elevated.

What is the problem?

2. Elevated subway grates

Diverts water from entering directly into subway grates

Diverts rubbish from falling through into the subway tunnels

Can serve as seats or bicycle racks to be more aesthetically pleasing (Figure 2)

Are a short term solution because they will not stop flooding if a 100-year storm event were to happen

Increase subway grates 6-18 inches above the sidewalk

Seal up subway grates that are not necessary to stop rain from entering at all

What have we decided?

What’s the plan?

Storm surge flooding events in lower Manhattan that normally occur once every hundred years are expected to occur every three to 20 years (Lin et al.)

This increase in flooding is exacerbated by climate change

East River subway tunnels below Canal Street are vulnerable to flooding

Without prior preparation, complete flooding of these tunnels could take 29 days to recover from (Jacob et al. 2011)

This would cost New York City approximately $23 million per day that the subway system is shut down (Jacob et al. 2011)

GOAL: East River subway tunnels must be completely protected from flooding in the event of a category two hurricane or lower by the year 2080.

Simple to implement: 30-minute pressurization time and fits to contour of tunnel

Durable: Can withstand 500,000 pounds of force

Elevating subway grates 6-18 inches above the sidewalk

Unnecessary grates can be sealed

Elevated grates already in use in Hillside Avenue zone

216 raised, 353 sealed—cost valued at several million

Cost efficient, aesthetically pleasing

Diverts moderate floodwater and rubbish from tunnels

Further research needs to be conducted about the feasibility of integrating elevated subway station entrances into lower Manhattan

Effective long-term strategy for waterproofing stations

Already in use in Taipei and Bangkok (Figure 3)

Will allow uninterrupted subway service throughout category 2 hurricanes and less intense storms

What can we do?

1. Plug the drain!

With specially engineered inflatable plugs that will fill a tunnel

Will act as a plug would in a sink, not letting water get through, preventing flooding due to storm surge

Pressurized in 30-minutes

Need minimal adjustments in order to fit each tunnel

Cost: About $400,000 per plug

Figure 1 breaks down the infrastructure

Needs further development

Figure 2: Created by Rogers Marvel Architects, these elevated subway grates were designed to divert rubbish and storm surge flooding from entering subway tunnels through street level grates. The grates stand 6-18 inches high (depending on flood risk) and can be found in Astoria and Hillside Queens.

3. Elevated subway entrances

Increase susceptible subway station entrances’ lowest critical elevation to 20 ft. through a combination of structural elevation and the use of flood gates.

Further investigation is needed to determine cost, station placement and/or integration with neighboring structures, and to figure out accessibility issues.

Implementation by necessity: More susceptible stations are elevated first.

A survey of every station’s LCE and proximity to the shore is needed to determine order of implementation

Figure 3: An elevated MRT station in Bangkok, Thailand defends the subway system from floodwaters during the 2011 monsoon season. Subway stations are elevated 1.20 meters above street level and are equipped with flood barriers, adding another 1.50 meters of protection.